🏆 Penn State Hits New Heights: Five Nittany Lions Secure Senior & U20 U.S. Open Titles
Penn State wrestling showcased its depth and dominance this weekend at the 2025 USA Wrestling U.S. Open in Las Vegas, where five Nittany Lion/RTC athletes captured national titles — three in the Senior Freestyle division and two in the U20 bracket .
🔥 Senior Freestyle Champions
Luke Lilledahl (57 kg, true freshman) – Pulverized the competition with a perfect 4–0 run, including three technical falls, clinching the crown with a decisive 10–0 win over Liam Cronin .
Mitchell Mesenbrink (74 kg) – Flawless performances throughout, highlighted by a commanding 16–6 technical fall over David Carr to claim gold .
Kyle Snyder (97 kg) – The elite heavyweight showed his class with four dominant tech-fall victories, including an 11–0 shutout of Jonathan Aiello in the finals .
Kyle Dake also made the senior finals at 86 kg but fell just short, finishing second after advancing through dominant tech-fall victories earlier in the event .
🧩 U20 Division Champions
Connor Mirasola (92 kg, true freshman) – A perfect 5–0 run culminated in a tight 5–1 final, earning him the U20 title .
Cole Mirasola (125 kg, true freshman) – Matchups behind him were filled with tech falls and controlled dominance—he sealed it with a 7–5 win in the finals .
Fourteen wrestlers from Penn State/RTC competed across both divisions, combining for an impressive 40–8 record, including 31 matches ended by tech falls or pins, with eight out of ten athletes earning top-five placements and seven reaching finals .
🌟 Coach Honored Too
Amid the celebration, Penn State RTC assistant Casey Cunningham received the prestigious USA Wrestling Freestyle Coach of the Year award—another testament to the program’s elite coaching and development .
👀 Why This Matters
These results reinforce Penn State’s position as both a collegiate and post-collegiate wrestling powerhouse. With youth such as Lilledahl and the Mirasolas primed for rising star status, and veterans like Snyder and Mesenbrink holding their ground, the Nittany Lion footprint grows deeper. The high-level structure—freshmen stepping up to seniors—ensures sustained success from NCAA mats to the global stage.
Penn State didn’t just compete this weekend — they ruled. And they did it with style and substance.
